Turf cutter



Feb. 26, 1963 c. M. WETZEL I 3,078,927

TURF CUTTER Filed Oct. 16 1959 INVENTOR.

CHARLES M. WETZEL ATT NEY FIG-.ll

" nite This application pertains to new and useful improvements in turf cutting apparatus.

Numerous devices have been provided for cutting turf at the margins of sidewalks. Some of these devices are of the type to which the foot of the operator is applied for supplying vertical pressure for forcing a cutting blade into the turf. This invention is an improvement in that class of turf cutters.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a turf cutter having a guide flange which can be re-positioned progressively along a sidewalk edge and having a turf cutting blade which is vertically movable relatively to the guide flange and is spaced laterally apart therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a turf cutter which has a spring-retracted reciprocable cutting blade, and means for operatively mounting the blade at any of several selected distances from the guide flange of the device for cutting a strip of a desired uniform width adjacent a sidewalk.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a turf cutter which utilizes conventional angle iron stock in a unique manner to form a combined handle and channel for guiding the movement of the reciprocable blade.

Another object of the invention is to utilize conventional angle iron stock to provide a turf cutter of very rugged construction capable of withstanding hard usage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be mentioned hereinafter, or will become apparent from a perusal of this specification.

In the drawing a preferred form of the device is shown to illustrate the nature of the invention and the manner of its use.

FIGURE 1 is an elevation partly in section, showing a turf cutter made in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation on a somewhat larger scale of a vertically reeiprocable blade actuator.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the actuator shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the actuator.

FIGURE 5 is a detail showing in perspective the lower portion only of one part of the turf cutter frame. 7

FIGURE 6 is a detail showing in perspective the lower portion of another part of the turf cutter frame.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately at the position of the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1; however, with the foot operated bar removed from the assembly.

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the cutting blade which is to be attached to the foot operated vertically reciprocable actuating bar.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of the turf cutting blade.

FIGURE 10 is a bottom view of the guide flange and base plate to be positioned at the margin of the sidewalk.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of the same flange and base plate.

Referring further to the drawing, the combination guide flange and base plate is a single piece of metal consisting of the base portion 11, which is to be rested on the horizontal margin of the sidewalk S, While the guide flange 12, bent from the base plate hugs the vertical margin of the sidewalk with its point down.

For the vertically reciprocable actuator for operating the cutting blade I provide a guide channel constructed as follows. Two pieces of conventional angle iron stock,

States Patent long enough to constitute a handle, are utilized. The lower end of the iron 13 is split at the corner and its flanges 14 and 15 are bent from the iron at as shown, and bolted or riveted to the base plate as shown in FIG- URE 7.

The lower end of the other iron 16 is also split at the corner and the foot 17 is bent outwardly from one flange, while the split off portion of the other flange is cut off and discarded. The foot 17 is then bolted or riveted to the base plate 11, as shown in FIGURE 7, being so positioned that a vertical channel is embraced between the inner flange faces of the two angle irons. A vertical slot 18 is cut in the flange from which the foot portion was discarded, through which the horizontal portion of the actuator may protrude.

The foot-operated actuator consists of a vertical portion 19 and a horizontal arm portion 21, the arm 21 being notched at 22 and 23 where it extends snugly through slot 18. Keys 24 and 25 are set into the sides of the arm as shown and welded or otherwise fixed in place. Thus the actuator is freely movable in the channel and projects through the slot, yet is guided against undue lateral displacement in any direction. If desired the channel and the margins of the slot are easily lubricated.

The actuator is spring-retracted by an extensible spiral spring 26, secured within the channel by a bolt 27 to the vertical arm 19 of the actuator. The upper end of the spring is anchored on bolt 28, which extends through both of the angle irons and firmly connects them. Preferably, the inside corners of the angle irons, which normally are rounded in manufacture, will be milled to provide square inside corners to improve them for use in forming the guide channel. Also, the contacting vertical edges of the irons preferably are welded together at intervals.

The horizontal arm 21 of the actuator carries the angular cutting blade, which has a horizontal portion 29 provided with two slotted apertures 31 and 32 which facilitate its being secured adjustably at several positions along the arm 21 by means of the bolts 33 and 34. The vertical portion 35 of the cutting blade is apertured at 36 to receive the arm 21. Reinforcing plates 37 and 38 are bolted to the cutting blade as shown and have slots through them registering with slot 36. Holes 3-9, 41 and 42 in the arm 21 are provided to receive the stud bolts 33 and 34, whereby the cutting blade may be positioned at various distances from the guide blade.

Cutting blades of various sizes and shapes may be used, and may readily be replaced or removed for sharpening.

The upper end portions of the united angle irons serve as a handle for the operator and may be so used as shown, or a special hand grip of any desired shape may be affixed thereto.

While the channel illustrated is preferred, it may now be perceived that other relative arrangements of the pair of irons may be employed to provide a guide channel between them, and, at the same time, utilizing feet bent outwardly from their flanges to support them and to secure them to the base plate.

In the operation of the turf cutter, the guid blade is to be placed as shown at the margin of the sidewalk, and the operator then steps on the horizontal portion of the cutter which is fixed on the actuator arm 21, forcing the cutting blade downwardly into the turf T. The guide blade 12 during this operation also functions to sever the turf from its normal adhesion to the sidewalk. When the operator removes his foot, the spring 26 will withdraw the cutting blade to a height sufficient to be clear of the turf. By advancing the device along the sidewalk and repeating the operation a desired strip of turf may be cut adjacent the sidewalk margin. Subsequently the cut strip of turf may be lifted out, thus leaving the desired groove adjacent the walk.

While the drawing shows a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details shown, but includes some modifications and variations, without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for turf cutting parallel to a sidewalk margin comprising a base plate for positioning on the edge of the sidewalk and having a guide flange depending therefrom, a pair of vertically extending angle irons having their upper portions rigidly secured together and their lower end portions rigidly connected to said base plate, one of said irons having both of its flanges at the lower portion thereof bent at right angles therefrom constituting supporting feet and secured to said base plate, the other angle iron having one of its flanges bent at right angles therefrom and likewise secured to said base plate, the two angle irons extending vertically from the base plate a substantial distance with the vertical margins of the two flanges of one iron disposed at right angle and contiguously to the vertical margins of the two flanges of the other iron thus defining between the four flanges of the irons a vertical channel of horizontal rectangular cross section, the other angle iron having a vertical slot in one of its flanges, a foot operated actuator having a vertical portion vertically reciprocable within said channel and a horizontal portion extending outwardly through said slot, a coil spring anchored within said channel and conneeted to the upper end of said actuator for retracting the actuator upwardly, and a turf cutting blade secured to and depending from said horizontal portion parallel to and spaced from said guide flange.

2. Apparatus for turf cutting parallel to a sidewalk margin comprising a base plate for positioning on the edge of the sidewalk and having a guide flange depending therefrom, a pair of vertically extending angle irons having their upper portions rigidly secured together and their lower end portions rigidly connected to said base plate, one of said irons having both of its flanges at the lower portion thereof bent at right angles therefrom constituting supporting feet and secured to said base plate, the other angle iron having one of its flanges bent at right angles therefrom and likewise secured to said base plate, the two angle irons extending vertically from the base plate a substantial distance with the vertical margins of the two flanges of one iron disposed at right angle and contiguously to the vertical margins of the two flanges of the other iron thus defining between the four flanges of the irons a vertical channel of horizontal rectangular cross section, the other angle iron having a vertical slot in one of its flanges, a foot operated actuator having a vertical portion vertically reciprocable within said channel and a horizontal portion extending outwardly through said slot, means of said horizontal portion coacting with the edges of the slot adapted for limiting horizontal movement of the actuator relatively to the slot, a coil spring within said channel connected to the upper end of said actuator for retracting the actuator upwardly, and a turf cutting blade secured to and depending from said horizontal portion parallel to and spaced from said guide flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 422,036 Phelps Feb. 25, 1890 2,007,826 Fickes July 9, 1935 2,737,104 Edwards Mar. 6, 1956 2,814,875 Seals Dec. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,925 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1911 

1. APPARATUS FOR TURF CUTTING PARALLEL TO A SIDEWALK MARGIN COMPRISING A BASE PLATE FOR POSITIONING ON THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK AND HAVING A GUIDE FLANGE DEPENDING THEREFROM, A PAIR OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING ANGLE IRONS HAVING THEIR UPPER PORTIONS RIGIDLY SECURED TOGETHER AND THEIR LOWER END PORTIONS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE PLATE, ONE OF SAID IRONS HAVING BOTH OF ITS FLANGES AT THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF BENT AT RIGHT ANGLES THEREFROM CONSTITUTING SUPPORTING FEET AND SECURED TO SAID BASE PLATE, THE OTHER ANGLE IRON HAVING ONE OF ITS FLANGES BENT AT RIGHT ANGLES THEREFROM AND LIKEWISE SECURED TO SAID BASE PLATE, THE TWO ANGLE IRONS EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM THE BASE PLATE A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE WITH THE VERTICAL MARGINS OF THE TWO FLANGES OF ONE IRON DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLE AND CONTIGUOUSLY TO THE VERTICAL MARGINS OF THE TWO FLANGES OF THE OTHER IRON THUS DEFINING BETWEEN THE FOUR FLANGES OF THE IRONS A VERTICAL CHANNEL OF HORIZONTAL RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION, THE OTHER ANGLE IRON HAVING A VERTICAL SLOT IN ONE OF ITS FLANGES, A FOOT OPERATED ACTUATOR HAVING A VERTICAL PORTION VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE WITHIN SAID CHANNEL AND A HORIZONTAL PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID SLOT, A COIL SPRING ANCHORED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL AND CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID ACTUATOR FOR RETRACTING THE ACTUATOR UPWARDLY, AND A TURF CUTTING BLADE SECURED TO AND DEPENDING FROM SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID GUIDE FLANGE. 